Whether the kids just started school or are anxiously (or not so anxiously) awaiting the first day back, you’ve probably made a list of back-to-school necessities. What that list probably doesn’t include is a way for your kids to update their schedules on their own, the perfect storage container to carry pencils and lipgloss, and a few ways to help the environment and give to those less fortunate. Our back-to-school essentials will not only give you a little more peace of mind as a parent but also encourage the kids to make their community and the world a little bit better.

Moms are experts when it comes to multitasking. You can take your daughter to ballet, get your son ready for fall ball practice, make a wholesome dinner, and do it all while planning the agenda for tomorrow morning’s work meeting. While you’re juggling the demands of everyday life though, your kids are trying to accomplish their own tasks as well, especially difficult and often tedious homework assignments. That’s why the Netgear Around Town Mobile Internet is such a lifesaver. While your daughter dances away at ballet practice, your son can work on all of his school assignments, including the ones that require the Web. This no-commitment 4G LTE mobile hotspot gives you high-speed Internet connection anywhere for up to ten hours. The hotspot can connect up to ten devices so everyone, including a busy mom, can take advantage of the fast connection.

While the Netgear mobile hotspot will keep your family connected, the Cozi app will keep everyone in the know about each other’s lives day to day. Any family member with the app can add or change the schedule, make requests for the grocery list, and even add recipes at the touch of a button. The Cozi app can be accessed from any mobile device or computer and the best part: it’s free.

For your kids not yet old enough for apps and iPhones there’s the FiLIP watch. This device serves as both a wearable phone and locator. At any time you can use the FiLIP app to find your child’s location and contact him through a call or a message. A red button on the side of the watch can be pushed at any time to signal an emergency. And yes, this “watch” is an actual watch too; it displays the current date and time on its screen.

Sure, kiddos need paper, pencils, and erasers for school but what about the fun stuff? Shopping for a Change, a nonprofit online marketplace that gives back to the artisans who create their merchandise, has a great selection of adorable backpacks and lunchboxes in their Dabbawalla line. The products, ranging from $30 to $40, are non-toxic so you’ll one less thing to worry about when it comes to your little one’s health. Though the items are a little pricey, you’ll feel good knowing that you invested in not only quality products but products that give back to the people who created them.

Your fashionable daughter will love adorning her locker with these cute decorations from LockerLookz. From wallpaper to magnets and rugs to chandeliers, LockerLookz has everything to make her space unique and completely her own. These decorations are great for any tween but would be especially good for a middle schooler looking to make her mark in a new school.

Another essential for a daughter is her own Caboodles storage. Caboodles come in a variety of designs, each one catering to a different style and age. Your young daughter will love the Oh La La option with its acrylic tote to carry school supplies and a bonus sequined pink pouch for toting lunch money and lip balm. Your high schooler or college undergrad will like the convenience of the Le Sophistique 10-Piece Bag Set with its numerous bags for storage as well as four travel size bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and lotion.

When it comes to clothes shopping for your teenager or undergrad, you’ve probably discovered that they prefer quantity over quality. Your daughter probably doesn’t need thirty dresses and your son only wears three of the ten pairs of shorts he owns. That’s why informing young people about the importance of conserving resources, even when it comes to something as simple as clothing, is essential. Threads 4 Thought is a fashion brand committed to making clothing pieces using sustainable materials and manufacturing those pieces in an environment where the workers are treated fairly. Affordable, versatile and stylish at the same time, Threads 4 Thought apparel, ranging from shirts and tanks to rompers and hoodies, is a brand striking up an important conversation that your kids need to hear.

We’ve all heard of the Kindle, but the newest addition to the Amazon family, the Kindle Voyage, is a major upgrade. Its high-resolution 300 ppi display reads like a book, making it ideal for a college student or dual-enrollment student who doesn’t want to lug around heavy textbooks. It also has an adaptive front light for reading at night or during the day and the battery now lasts weeks, not just hours. The thinnest Kindle ever, this device is a must for your college freshman.

The post Back-to-School Essentials You Didn’t Know Your Kids Needed appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

All parents know that school mornings can be a real challenge.  You’re dealing with tired kids, trying to get everyone dressed without an argument, prepping a healthy breakfast and getting lunches and backpacks ready.  It can make you exhausted before the day even gets going.  Over the years I’ve had my fair share of rough mornings but if you stick to these tips you will be on the right track for a smooth transition for the entire family!

• Keep a routine each morning so that everyone shares the same schedule. Consistency helps each family member know who is doing what at all minutes of the morning. It shouldn’t be a surprise to your children what time breakfast is and who showers when. Brush teeth, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, and get to school on time!

• Create a family “command center.” Centralize a station for all your family’s coats, shoes, backpacks, sports equipment and so forth, near the kitchen or door for easy morning access. Keep a family calendar or pin board for family notes at the station. Each night have your children load their homework and projects at the command center for a quick morning exit!

• Practice open communication with your family. Talk about your family’s routine every night and get everyone on the same page. Talk about what works and what does not work, and then make the appropriate adjustments.

• Lay out the entire outfit for next day the night before makes getting dressed simplified in the morning. The hanging canvas closet racks with 5 slots are great for picking out outfits for each day of the week. Label each slot for Monday through Friday to make preparing weekly outfits easier than ever. Your children should never have issues with their morning wardrobe again.

• Pack the family’s cold lunches the night before so it’s “grab and go” and out the door in the morning.

• Get to bed early! A tired and cranky child only slows down the morning routine.

• Organization goes far. Make sure homework is done the night before, projects are ready for transport to car before going to bed and everyone has what they need to leave the house.

• Have a family calendar that all members contribute to. Have your children add in their after school events, upcoming weekend event, family nights and after school sports. Most importantly, talk about the calendar as a family and bond together over discussion.

Be a family, be supportive, be funny and don’t forget to smile and laugh together! Life is short and can be enjoyable, too. Enjoy the moments of chaos and grow together. 

Good luck!

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents.  Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel for dads and the Daddyscrubs.com blog where he covers topics about parenting and the latest baby and kids gear, all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post School Morning Routines That Work appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.